Chads Back In 2007 for More Fun!

GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Like the central Kentucky weather, Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson is heating up — in more ways than one.

"I'm going back to the old '05 Chad — the talking, the celebrating, the getting fined — all that," Johnson said during a recent break at training camp. "It's going to be a very entertaining, but productive, got-to-get-to-the-playoffs season. I want to carry the load. I'm going to make sure we get it done."

Last year, Johnson became the first Bengal to lead the league in receiving yards in a season with 1,369. Nevertheless, head coach Marvin Lewis and wide receivers coach Mike Sheppard challenged him to get better.  They point to Johnson's final three games — a combined 10 catches for 122 yards and no touchdowns — as proof that there's room for improvement.  "It was brought to my attention my whole game needs work, regardless of the numbers I put up," Johnson said. "They basically said, 'What can we do to continue to push someone who's already self-motivated?' They pushed all the right buttons. It put two unbelievably big chips on my shoulders and an enormous monkey on my back. Therefore, you've created a bigger beast and a bigger animal than what you've already had. This is going to be a ridiculously monster season."

Bengals defense is key to a 12-4 season

The defense of line is a good veteran group:
Now that they don’t have to cater to big Sam Adams and all of his talk about showing up on Sundays and simply not doing it, the Bengals can get down to business.  The current line will be practicing everyday, and I am sure they will be working to keep each other accountable.  That’s a good thing.  I believe Justin Smith is worth exactly what he got.  One year and enough money to keep him in a right mind set.  The real beasts of the D-line are Domata Peko and Robert Geathers.  This could be the 1st time in a long time that the Bengals have two d-lineman that might demand a double team on a consistent basis.

After taking the brunt of the criticism for Cincinnati's disappointing 8-8 season in 2006, the Bengals defense lost two notable linebackers as training camp was about to open.  The announcement that David Pollack's neck injury would keep Cincinnati's No. 1 draft pick in 2005 out for the season wasn't a shock. But NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's decision not to reinstate Odell Thurman was.  Thurman was Cincinnati's leading tackler in 2005, and now he will miss a second consecutive season because of his substance-abuse suspension. Also gone is linebacker Brian Simmons, a nine-year veteran who signed with New Orleans.  That leaves Cincinnati's linebacking duties in the hands of a group that's largely young and lightly tested, and has had to battle adversity.

How that unit performs likely will be the key either to regaining the edge Cincinnati had while leading the NFL in takeaways in 2005, or to resembling the 2006 club that ranked 30th in total defense.  "You coach who you have, and these are the guys I have," Cincinnati linebackers coach Ricky Hunley says. "It would be no different if we still had those guys and one of them got injured. All my guys know that they're one play away from being the guy." 

Tuesday,  July 31, 2007 3:33 AM

GEORGETOWN, Ky.

• Recap: Tight end Sean Mulcahy hurt his neck during a blocking drill in the morning practice and was taken off the field in an ambulance. A team spokesman said Mulcahy had full movement in his arms and legs and was joking with medical personnel at the Kentucky Trauma Center in nearby Lexington. He was back at camp last night and is expected to meet with team doctors today. ... The team waived cornerback Greg Brooks, a fourth-year player from Southern Mississippi who had failed his physical. ... Quarterback Carson Palmer spent the morning working with the strength coaches and rejoined team practice last night.

• Day's best: Linebacker Eric Henderson, a converted defensive end, showed his athletic skills with a leaping interception.

Bengals head coach Forrest Gregg never spoke to Bill Walsh in the aftermath of the 49ers' 26-21 victory over Cincinnati in Super Bowl XVI at the Pontiac (Mich.) Silverdome on Jan. 24, 1982.  "It was just so hectic," Gregg said from Colorado Springs on Monday. "We just shook hands. That was about as far as it went.  "I saw him a lot after that and we shared our thoughts about the game. He was one of those guys who, when he won a game, he didn't brag. He didn't push it in your face. He said he felt fortunate and so forth."

Gregg was stunned at Walsh's death Monday.  "We weren't what you'd call close friends," Gregg said. "I knew him for a long time and we coached against each other. I have tremendous respect for him as a man and a coach."